New procedure for 'Detection and deportation of illegal immigrants '

Minister of State for Home Affairs M. Ramachandran today informed that detection and deportation of illegal immigrants in the country is a continuous process.

"Central Government is vested with powers to deport a foreign national illegally staying in the country under section 3(2)(c) of the Foreigners Act, 1946. The powers to identify and deport such illegally staying foreign nationals have also been delegated to the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations," Ramachandran said in written reply to a question by Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhao, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and Mansukh Bhai D.Vasava in the Lok Sabha today.

"A revised procedure for detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants has also been set out and circulated to the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations in November, 2009, which has been partially modified in February, 2011. The procedure includes sending back then and there, the illegal immigrants who are intercepted at the border while entering India unauthorisedly," he added.

Ramachandran further said certain instances of some illegal immigrants having obtained ration cards, voter identity cards and driving licenses through fraudulent means have been reported.

"Statistical data of this nature is not centrally maintained. As and when such instances are detected, the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations concerned take necessary action for cancellation of such documents along with such other appropriate steps as mandated by the provisions of law," he added. (ANI)